Report

Raith Rovers lost their first league derby at Starks Park in almost nine years on Saturday after succumbing 2-1 to local rivals, Dunfermline Athletic.  

A strong first-half performance from The Pars put the visitors two goals ahead at halftime, before a spirited attempt at a comeback from The Rovers ultimately fell short.  

Dougie Imrie was forced into a change from the goalless draw against Partick Thistle a week earlier, which saw Paul Hanlon leave the field through injury early in the first half. The veteran defender remained out of action for this derby, which saw Paul Nsio start in the midfield in his place. Jordan Doherty was moved to the backline – highlighting a five-player injury crisis that left Imrie with a young bench of just four outfield players on this occasion. Joshua Mullin also missed out through suspension after earning a red card in the aforementioned match against Partick.  

A almost fully packed Starks Park watched on as Dunfermline got the season’s third Fife Derby underway, which got off to a feisty start after Scott Brown committed the first foul of the match inside three seconds.  

Zak Rudden came close to scoring against his former club in the 5th minute after he let fly from around 25 yards out. His effort looked to be goal-bound, the ball never dipped before thundering off the crossbar and out for a goal-kick.  

Raith settled somewhat and started to create some chances of their own as the half progressed, but Dunfermline remained the more dangerous looking of the two sides. Jack Hamilton had a couple chances to get some shots on goal for Raith, but a good save from a header, coupled with an effort blasted over the bar, stopped the striker from opening the scoring. 

Raith’s injury woes were dealt yet another serious blow around the half-hour mark after Ross Matthews pulled up. Richard Chin replaced the midfielder, forcing Imrie into another position re-shuffle.  

The Pars continued to press forward, moving the ball quickly and confidently in Raith’s final third. Their efforts eventually paid dividends after a great move allowed Jeremiah Mullen to tear down the right wing before playing a ball across the face of goal. The pass lacked any sort of pace or complexity, but that didn’t stop Andy Tod from getting to the ball first, turning the ball into the bottom right from close range in the 33rd minute.  

Dunfermline didn’t let off and scored their next in a much simpler manner after Matthew Todd curled a corner into a crowded 18-yard box. Loanee Barney Stewart leapt highest to meet the cross at the front of the six-yard box, glancing a header into the far-right side of Raith’s goal in the 40th minute to double The Pars’ lead.  

To make matters worse for The Rovers, Lewis Stevenson left the field through injury right on the stroke of halftime. Imrie, forced to again look to his already depleted bench, substituted Motherwell loanee Ewan Wilson on the take Stevenson’s place at left-back.  

An audibly unhappy home crowd might have spurred on a livelier performance in the second half for The Rovers, who emerged essentially a different side after the break. Things started to slow after some promising-looking chances went amiss, but things changed when Dan McFarlane pointed to the spot in the 60th minute.  

After being brought down as he broke into The Pars’ area, Dylan Easton stepped up to take. The man made no mistake from the spot, choosing the right way with his penalty to get Raith back in the match with half an hour to go.  

Dunfermline looked to have quelled any chance of a Raith comeback moments later, but Andy Tod’s freekick miraculously rebounded off the post before being cleared in the 64th minute.  

Things heated up in the 68th minute in the aftermath of a Raith challenge, which saw Chris Hamilton, alongside players from both sides, get booked. The Pars skipper was let off with a series of serious-looking sliding challenges in the minutes that remained though, much to the bewilderment of the home support.  

Jack Hamilton had the best chance to level the match after getting on the end of a cross in the 81st minute, but his awkward diving header from a low position didn’t get past Mehmet in The Pars’ goal.  

The goal that the home support so desperately dreamed of didn’t materialize before the full-time whistle, condemning Raith to a first defeat under Dougie Imrie, as well as dropping them a place below Dunfermline to sixth place.  

The Rovers will have to wait until the turn of the year to get some more points on the board, with an away trip to Airdrie scheduled for the 3rd of January.  

Written by Hamish Rankine.  

Photos